THE PEN

Sitting at my breakfast table with the curtains pulled back so I could see the courtyard, I was enjoying a cup of coffee thinking about the day. I had my Bible opened to Psalm 90 and began to write a few notes in my study book when my pen ran out of ink.
 
Grrr…I thought, why does my pen always run out of ink when I am writing?
 
I laughed out loud. How many times have my pens run out of ink when I am contemplating rich and deep thoughts that could change the world. Hahahahaha!!! Of course, pens run out of ink if you write enough.
 
I looked at my cute pen with pastel flowers and thought, “somebody made this pen.”
 
Then I thought, cool. If it were up to me, there wouldn’t be any pens…buildings, cars, airplanes or technology. You name it. I might have come up with how to plant a garden and maybe would’ve been a roving storyteller. But given the person I am today, not sure I’d be the one to build skyscrapers.
 
Which brought me to the creation mandate in Genesis.
 
“And God blessed them, and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth…and God took the man and placed him in the garden to work it and keep it.” From Genesis 1:28 & 2:18.
 
Just think about it, after God made plants and animals “after their kind.” He made man in “His image” after His kind!!! God, the Creator made man to create and cultivate the world!! He gave each of us gifts to bless one another. He also made the world and everything in it, then said, and I paraphrase…
 
“Hey guys, here’s some stuff. Go for it!!!”
 
God gives us permission to create and make stuff. To make this world, our homes and families, our churches and neighborhoods, and yes, even our country a better place!!! As we were reminded in our sermon on Sunday, we are the light of the world, and we are to let our lights shine.
 
Jesus said, let your light shine! Don’t hide it under a basket but set your light on a stand and let it light up the whole house!! Why? So, others will benefit!! So, they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

As His image-bearers, we make God visible by doing good works!!
 
So here are a couple of thoughts. Where has God placed you? That is where you are to shine. What stuff has God given you? That is what you are to use to cultivate, to bless others and to make this world a better place.
 
And who knows, you might make a better pen.